Process and apparatus for inking embossed wore



M. W. CANFIELD PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR INKING EMBOSSED WORK OriginalFiled Dec. 9. 1929 sept. 15, 1931.

PROCESS a L L- Inventor; eZvL'ZZa 74( Ca Ressued Sept. 15, 1931 UNITEDSTATES NEUVILLEV W. CANFIELD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORIA PROCESS .ANDAPPARATUS FOB INKING EMBOSSED WORK Original No. 1,797,323, dated March24, 1931, Serial No. 412,8091ed December 9, 1929. Application forreissue ined August 5, 1931. serial No. 555,334.

In this specification, and the accompany ing drawings, I shall describeand show a preferred form of my invention, and specifically mentioncertain of its more important `g; objects. I do not limit myself to theforms disclosed, since various changes and adaptations may be madetherein without departing from the essence of my invention ashereinafter claimed; and objects and advantages, other than thosespecifically mentioned, are

included within its scope.

My invention relates to means for inking embossed surfaces; such asraised letters, designs, and borders. Among its principal objects are:first, to provide an improved means for inking such surfaces to securesharply l defined outlines, and to eliminate fringing effects; second,to effect a material saving of ink required for this purpose; third, tomake it possible to ink raised borders, etc., that enclose other raisedwork; fourth, to afford facilities for inking di'erent portions ofraised work in different colors, at one operation; and, fifth, toprovide simple and practical apparatus for accomplishing the aboveresults.

My objects are attained in the manner shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates simple form of handapparatus forutilizing my invention, the view being in lan, and having certain partsbroken away or convenience in disclosing the underlylng structures;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the above apparatus, with certain partsbroken; and,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus, in section taken on theline 3-3 of lSI5 imilar reference numerals refer to similar artsthroughout the several views.

or the purposes of this disclosure, I have selected as an illustrationof the app-lication of'my improved process, a method of inking certainraised surfaces on a book cover 5. Thus the words Calif and processcomrise embossed letters 6 and 7 respectively. il`he word Process isenclosed within a border 8 which is also embossed. It will be noted thatthe letters composing the word Calif are placed upon the book coverdiagonally; andA we will assume that they are to be co1- ored yellowland that the letters composing the word rocess, and the bordertherearound, are to be colored red.

The simple form of apparatus shown for accomplishing the above purposecomprises a bed-plate 9, having parallel longitudinal V-grooves 10 nearthe respective edges thereof, and a longitudinal rack 11 at one side. Atthe right-hand end of the machine is an elevated ink-fountain 12,adapted for being variably divided by removable partitions 13. Thisfountain has a slot 14 at the bottom, eX- tending from one end to theother, and directly below the slot is a rotatable distributing roller15. This is mounted in bearings 16 on the frame of the fountain, and isadapted for being driven at a uniform rate of revolution, as by thepulley 17.

A vcarriage 18, of inverted U-shape, having wedge shaped feet 19engaging grooves 10, is longitudinally slidable upon the bedplate. Theopposed legs of this carriage are horizontally slotted, as shown at 20,in such a, manner as to provide guide-ways for horizontally slidableblocks 21, of which there is one at each side. These blocks are providedwith outstanding lugs 22 carrying adjustably positioned eye-bolts 23.Tension springs 24 are stretched between these eye-bolts, and studs 25on the carriage. By means of these springs, the blocks 21 are normallyconstrained to remain at the left-hand ends of slots 20.

Between blocks 21, and carried thereby in bearings 26, is a freelyrotatable application roller 27. A somewhat larger inking roller 28 isrotatably mounted directly between the legs of the carriage in bearings29. The shaft of the latter roller carries a spur gear 30, which engagesrack 11 and thereby rotates this roller as the carriage is pushed backand forth in the V-grooves of the base.

Operating handles 31 extend outwardly from blocks 21, and by their meanscarriage 18 may be slid upon the bed-plate from one end to the other.Thejmotion of the carriage to the right-is limited by its feet 19 cominginY contact-,with feet 32 of the ink the -embossedtfwork tov besinlfountain. When this occurs, although the carriage can be pushed nofurther to the right, the blocks 21 can be moved further in thisdirection, by slightly stretching the tension springs 24. This allowsapplication roller 21m contact with distributing roller 15, and toobtain u supply of ink on its surface thereby. Y l

Assuming that the raised work to be inked is embossed on or otheryieldable material, it is usually best to lace it upon au underlyingdie-plate 33. 'nking 'pa'd's 34, of relatively thick sheet rubber, areout to shapes indicated by dotted lines 3'5, te include the raisedlettering or other raised work that vis to lbe inked `ifn Vany onecolor. These inking `pads are then cemented to inking Vroller 28, inproper positions to register with the work that is to be inked.Adjusting screws 36 (shown only `in Ffiig. 2) are provided at 'each sideAof the curia e, to limit the 'letehaad movemelt of biloc 21 and thusprovide any ldesired pressure vof 'contact between application roller 27and the inking pads '84.`

'Assuming that yellow .printing ink 37 is deposited in section 38 of theink 'founta'in, and that red ink 39 Vis 'deposited in section 40 ofbetheyisaauiglu that distrilutiln rollgexl` 15 is ing'rot ypower a ie t :roupulley 17, the dperatiol'n is asligllows The operstrgrasps handles 31and pushes them toward the right vso as to move application roller 27against-distrilmting roller 15. The a plication roller wiilithus Vhave'imparted to 1t circumferential "bands vof yellow and red ink. Assoonzus-the right-hand pressure uponfthe handles is y"released,springs V24will retract the `application roller to 1theleft, and cause itto-'contact with inking pads 34. The carringe'is then moved to 'the leftyby means ofthe handles,a'nd theengagement between spurJgeer 30 and rackf11 will cause inking roller 28 to revolve. Thefinks Von theapplicationfreller 'will thus be :spread upon the inking pads 34, andthe latter 'will deposit the vink in its `respective 'colors upon d, assoon as Ythecurrimge 's'nioved-suently fur towards the left. Stops 41prevent the carriage from over-travelli- The carriage i'sthenm'ovedagaintowafrdl herightfto repeat the meess, ndtherised work is again'inke 'in so doing. "The work thusstreated Yis removed and replacedwfhile'thel carriage Ais 'in its right-lhandposition. y Y

From the foregoing description itiwill be apparent' that 'embossed workof a great vs rietyfofdesign fmay b inked =by vmy innproc'ss, in anumber 'olf coloni abone operation. 1t *willf'dlso'be'seen that nostencils are r uited in the process. Still further it 'wil 'appear'"that enclosing Ycontinuous r rs fbe used, which yis not poible A*whenstencils hre employed. 'The Alinkirig pads 34 may be made of any desiredthiol-QV ness, which is a very great advantage when the body of the workto be inked is rough, wrinkled, or buckled. Finally it will appear thatthere will be a material saving of ink by reason of the fact that theink is applied only to nking pads 34, and not to the entire surface ofthe inking roller.

Althou h, for the sake of simplicity, I have 'shown 'a described a verysimple form of hand-apparatus for making use of my improved process, 1twill be apparent that the Work may be accomplished by` automaticmachineryadapted to 4function in the same manner. Such machinery canreadily be produced .by competent designers, in the light of thisdisclosure.

Having thus full Ydisclosed my invention, I Yclaim s 1. The .here-indescribed proess, comprising; making a pad of a size and sha that isadapted to cover e raisedsurfoce Vto inked; attaching the pad to theperiphery of a. roll-v er; ink' the face `of the thus attached pad; andcausmg relative lateral movement between the roller and ysurface withconcurrent rotation of ythe roller, in such manner that the inked padwill `come into rolling contact with said surface yas a result of saidrelative movement.

'2. The herein described process, Vcomprisinggjmaking a ipod of s. Asizeand gshape that is adapted to cover with `small Vmargin a raisedl:surface =to be inked; Yattaching the d tothe periphery 'of a rroller;inkling the ce iof the thus attached pad.; and causing reltivelatenalmovement between the 'roller and surface with concurrent rotation offthe roller, in :such vmarmer that'the inked :pad will come into'rolling-contact with said surface as a result of said relativemovement; said ypad being-so fpositioned upon the roller as to'ro'gisterwithfsaid surface as it contacts therewith. A8. The lnexrein ldescribedprocess, comprising; making'a pad of a size and shape that is adapted tocover with small margin a rasisedsurface to-be inked.; attaching the:pad to the periphery of-a roller; inking'theface Ofi/.thethusattachetlpad; and causin relative lateral movement between the rol er `andsurface with concurrent frotation ofthe `roller, in such manner thatrtheinked :pad will come into rolling contact with said surface as a.msultof said relative movement; said pad beingsopositioned upon theToller as'to register withfsaid surface as itcontactstherewith; yundsaid rollenbein'gvconstrainedto 'rotate so 'ms "to prevent slipping'between said pad and surface whentheyfarein-contact.

4. The herein described process, fcomprising; mking a, pad'of a'size=andshape adaptetl'tocover 'with small 'margin a raised 'sur- Yacc to be'inked; attachiig vthe pad "to 'the peripheryuf aoller; -ni urmlyinking-'the flll d les face of the thus attached pad; and moving theroller laterally and rotatively over said surface in such manner thatthe pad will come into rolling contact with the entire area thereof.

5. The herein described process, comprising; making a pad of a size andshape ada ted to cover with small margin the boundaries of a raisedsurface to be inked attaching the pad to the periphery of a roller;uniformly inking the face of the thus attached pad; and moving theroller laterally and rotatively over said surface at a distancetherefrom; said pad being of a thickness adapting it to come intorolling contact with said surface when the roller is thus moved, andbeing so positioned upon the roller as to register with said surface asit rolls thereover,

6. The herein described process, comprising; making a pad of uniformthickness of a size and shape adapted to cover with small margin theboundaries of a raised surface to be inked; attaching the pad to theperiphery of a roller; uniformly inking the face of the thus attachedpad; and moving the roller laterally and rotatively over said surface ata uniformdistance therefrom said roller being constrained to rotateproportionally to its lateral movement and so as to prevent slippingbetween said pad and surface when they are in Contact; and said padbeing of a thickness adapting it to contact with said surface when theroller is thus moved, and being so positioned u on the roller as toregister with said sur ace as it rolls thereover.

7. Apparatus of the character described, comprising; means forsupporting work having a raised surface to be inked; a rotatable rolleradapted for relative lateral movement with respect to said surface at adistance therefrom; a raised pad upon the periphery of the rolleradapted to come into rolling contact with said surface as a result ofsaid relative movement; and means for inking the face of the pad; thedimensions and shape of the pad, and its position upon the roller,adapting it to register with said surface as it contacts therewith.

8. Apparatus of the character described, comprising; means including abed for supporting work having a raised surface. to be inked; a carriageadapted for relative lateral movement with respect to said bed; a rollerrotatably mounted upon the carriage at a distance from the bed; a raisedpad upon the periphery of the roller adapted to come into rollingcontact with said surface as a result of said relative movement; andmeans for inking the face of the pad; the dimensions and shape of thepad, and its position upon the roller, adapting it to register with saidsurface as it contacts therewith.

9. The construction set forth in claim 7, in combination with means forconstraining the roller to rotate. proportionally to its relativelateral movement, and so as to prevent slipping between said raisedsurface and pad when they are in contact.

10. The construction set forth in claim 8, in combination with; meansfor constraining the roller to rotate proportionally to said relativelateral movement, and so as to prevent slipping between said raisedsurface and pad when they are in contact; and wherein the inking meansincludes an application roller adapted for lateral movement upon thecarriage, away from the pad, to contact with an ink supply.

11. Apparatus of the character described, comprising; means forsupporting work having a raised surface to be inked; a rotatable rolleradapted for being laterally moved over said surface at a distancetherefrom; a raised pad upon the periphery of the roller adapted tocontact with said surface and to roll thereover; and means for uniformlyinking the face. of said pad; the dimensions and shape of the pad andits position upon the roller, being such as to bring it into registeringcontact with the raised surface as it rolls thereover.

12. Apparatus of t-he character described, comprising; a bed adapted forsupporting work having. a raised surface to be inked; a carriage uponthe bed adapted for being laterally moved over said surface; a rollerrotatably mounted upon the carriage at a distance from said bed; araised pad upon the periphery of the roller adapted to contact with saidsurface and to roll thereover; and means for inking the face of saidpad; the dimensions and shape of the pad and its position upon theroller, being such as to bring it into registerin-g contact with theraised surface as it rolls thereover, with small margin over saidsurface.

13. The construction set forth in claim 11 in combination with means forconstraining the roller to rotate proportionally to its lateraldisplacement, and so as to prevent slipping between said raised surfaceand pad when they are in contact.

14. The construct-ion set forth in claim 12 in combination with; meansfor constraining the roller to rotate proportionally to the lateraldisplacement of the carriage, and so as to prevent slipping between theraised surface and ad when they are in cont-act; and wherein t e meansfor inking the pad comprises an application roller adapted for lateralmovement upon the carriage, away from the pad, to contact with an inksupply.

MELVILLE W. CANFIELD.

